TO THE
HEBREWS.
CHAP. I.
GOD, who spake to the fathers of old at various times, and in different manners by the prophets, 2in these last days hath spoken to us by a Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3who being the splendour of his glory, and the very impress of his substance, and upholding all things with his powerful word, by himself having effected the cleansing of our sins, he sat down at the right hand of Majesty on high; 4made as much superior to the angels, as he hath inherited a more distinguished name than they. 5For to which of the angels ever said he, “My Son art thou, I have to-day begotten thee[120]?” And again, “I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son[121]?” 6And again, when he introduces the first-begotten into the world, he saith, “Let all the angels of God also worship him[122].” 7And concerning the angels indeed he thus speaks: “Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministering servants a flame of fire[123].” 8But to the Son, “Thy throne, O God, is unto eternity; a sceptre of rectitude is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of exultation above those who partake with thee[124].” 10“And thou from the beginning, O Lord, hast founded the earth, and the heavens are the works of thine hands. 11They will be destroyed, but thou remainest; and they all will grow old as a garment, 12and as a cloak thou wilt wrap them up, and they will undergo a change: but thou art the same, and thy years will never end[125].” 13Unto which indeed of the angels said he ever, “Sit at my right hand until I put thine enemies for a footstool of thy feet[126]?” 14Are they not all ministerial spirits, sent to perform service on account of those who are about to inherit salvation?
[CHAP. II.]
FOR this reason we ought to attend more diligently to the things which have been heard, lest by any means we let them flow by us. 2For if the discourse spoken by angels was confirmed, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment as its due, 3how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which, commencing at the beginning to be spoken by the Lord, was confirmed unto us by those who had heard him; 4God superadding his testimony with them, by signs, and wonders, and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5For he hath not subjected the future world, of which we are speaking, to the angels. 6But one in a certain passage testifieth, saying, “What is man, that thou rememberest him, or a son of man, that thou regardest him?” 7“Thou hast made him for a little while lower than angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, and hast placed him over the works of thy hands: 8thou hast subjected all things under his feet[127].” Now in subjecting all things to him, he left nothing unsubjected to him; but at present we see not yet all things subjected to him. 9But we see Jesus for a little while made lower than angels, by the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that, by the grace of God, he might taste of death for every one.
10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to perfect the Author of their salvation by sufferings. 11For both he that sanctifies, and they who are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12saying, “I will declare thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the church I will sing hymns to thee[128].” 13And again, “I will place my confidence in him[129].” And again, “Behold! Here am I, and the children which God hath given me[130].”
14Seeing therefore that the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he also himself, in exact resemblance, partook of the same, that by death he might destroy him who held the power of death, that is, the devil; 15and deliver those, even as many as through their whole life were subjects of bondage to the fear of death. 16For he verily took not on him the angelic nature, but assumed that of the seed of Abraham. 17Wherefore he ought in all things to be made like to his brethren, in order to become a merciful and faithful high-priest in those things which relate to God, to make a propitiation for the sins of the people: 18for inasmuch as he hath himself suffered, having been tempted, he is able to succour those who are tempted.